Thermometer



Feb. 18, 1941. NQDINE 2,232,557

- THERMOMETER Filed July 19, 1959 Fig.4

lNVENTOR FREDERICK A. NOD/NE} ///S A TTORNE).

Patented Feb. 18, 1941 PATENT OFFICE.

. M M ER Frederick AaNo'din T v e, C m, assignor to l The Cooper ;ven Thermometer Company, I Pequabuck, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut, ApplicationJuly 19. 1939; Serial No."285,229 s ams, (cite-46s) i r;

This invention "relates to thermometers and comprises all of the'features of novelty herein disclosed. An object ofthe invention is to provide an improvedfthermometermore especially for use in shallow fatfrying- Another object is to provide a-thermometer offew and inexpensive parts and of simple, strong construction and one wherein the movable parts are thoroughly protected and the temperature isv easily read.

To these ends and also to improve generally upon devices of this character, the invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed. In its broader aspects, the inven tion is not necessarily limited to the specific con- ]5 struction selected for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view.

Fig. 2 is a side view.

Fig. 3 is a view of the blank for the back plate.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of Fig. 1.

The blank from which the elongated back plate is made is shown in Fig. 3 and comprises a lower portion 10 having a central slot l2 and notched edges I4 at the sides. An upwardly projecting lobe-like extension or supporting portion [6 is connected to the lower portion 10 by a neck having reinforcing ribs l8 pressed into the metal across the narrow neck. The supporting portion also has rivet holes 20 to secure it to a clip and to a face plate as will appear. The lower portion is. bent to form a rectangular housing or enclosure having side walls 22 and a two part front wall 24, the two parts meeting at the center except where a slot 26 is formed by the notches I4.

Secured by a spot weld 28 toone of the side walls 22 is a heat sensitive device such as a bimetallic member 30 of substantially V-shape, the free end being secured to a pointer 32. The upper or supporting portion I6 of the back plate is covered by an ornamental face plate preferably coated with porcelain enamel and having a dial. The face plate has a central flat portion 34 secured to the back plate by rivets 36. The top of the faceplate is substantially fiat at 38 and is raised above the portion 34 from which it is separated or spaced by side cuts 40 and by a out along the lower edge of the dial. When the face plate is stamped out, these cuts produce fr an opening or louver through which the pointer projects and the flat portion 38 forming a guard.

The face plate also has rounded side ribs 42 which are raised above the central portion 34 and are of substantially U-shapedcrosssection. The ribs are convex towards the front and they gradually deepenand widen from the bottom to the top. The pointer lies in a protected position between the side ribs and the left hand side rib engages the pointer at 44 to limit movement thereof when the bimetallic member is cold. The end of the pointer is housed in a pocket under the raised 10 portion 38. The outside edges of the face plate preferably entirely surround and fit the outside edges of the upper lobe-like extension or supporting portion I6.of the back plate.

In use the thermometer dips into fat or other 15 liquid in a suitable vessel, a spring clip 46 fitting over a part of the vessel and having a leg 48 secured to the back plate by the rivets 36. The liquid has direct access at different levels to the bimetallic member through the slots I2 and 26 20 and through the open bottom. The top of the housing for the bimetallic member is wide open to allow movement of the pointer and so that residual fat can be easily slushed out after use.

I claim: 25

1. In a thermometer, a back plate, a heat sensitive member secured to the back plate, a pointer secured to the heat sensitive member,

a face plate having a flat central portion secured to the back plate and having raised side ribs at 3 opposite sides of the pointer, and the face plate having a raised dial overlying the end of the pointer and connecting the ends of the side ribs.

a face plate having a fiat central portion secured 45 to the back plate, the face plate having a raised portion provided with a dial and separated from the depressed portion to form a pocket housing the end of the pointer, and the face plate having raised side ribs at opposite sides of the pointer. 50

4. In a thermometer, an elongated back plate having a housing portion and a flat extension, a heat sensitive member secured within the housing, a pointer secured directly to the heat sensitive member and projecting out of the housing in spaced relation to the extension, a face plate secured to the extension behind the pointer, and the face plate having raised ribs along its sides to protect the pointer.

5. In a thermometer, a back plate having a housing portion, a heat sensitive member in the housing, a pointer secured to the heat sensitive member and projecting from the housing, and a face plate secured to the back plate behind the pointer and having a dial overlying the end of the pointer.

6. In a thermometer, a back plate having a fiat upper portion and a lower portion bent to form a housing having openings, a bimetallic member in the housing and having one end secured thereto, a pointer connected to the other end of the bimetallic member and projecting from the housing, and a face plate secured to said 'flat upper portion of the back plate and having a pocket housing the end of the pointer and provided with a dial.

7. In a thermometer, a back plate having its lower portion bent to form an elongated housing with back, side and front walls, the housing being open at the ends, a bimetallic member secured to one of the side walls, a pointer connected to the bimetallic member and projecting from the housing, and a face plate having a central portion secured to the back plate and having an upper portion spaced from the back plate and lying in front of the pointer.

8. In a thermometer, a back plate having an upright upper portion and a lower portion formed as an open ended housing, a bimetallic member secured at one end within the housing, a pointer connected to the bimetallic member and projecting from the housing, a face plate having a central portion secured to said upright portion'and raised side ribs at opposite sides of the pointer, and the face plate also having a raised upper portion provided with a dial and forming a guard overlying the end of the pointer.

9. In a thermometer, a back plate having an open-ended housing with an extension, 2, face plate having a flat portion fixed to the extension and raised side ribs, the face plate having a top guard portion merging with the side ribs and cut away from the flat portion to form an open pocket, a bimetallic member secured in the housing, a pointer secured to the bimetallic member and projecting from the housing along the flat portion of the face plate, the end of the pointer entering the pocket and lying behind the guard.

FREDERICK A. NODINE. 

